handheld posts

Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Video, Odds and ends, iPhone

ZGrip iPhone Jr. available August 15th

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Aug 13th, 2009

Dave Caolo tempted TUAW readers in early July with news about Zacuto's ZGrip iPhone Pro, a handy (no pun intended) articulated grip for taking steadier video with the iPhone 3GS. While the US$295 price tag was a bit out of the realm of possibility for all but well-heeled iPhone geeks, there was a tantalizing bit of news at the end of the post stating that a "low-cost consumer version" would soon be released.

That news was very accurate, as you'll be able to buy the US$69 ZGrip iPhone Jr. starting this Saturday, August 15th. While it doesn't offer all of the features of the Pro model such as the rotating grip head, it holds an iPhone 3GS securely in a set of fingers, has a handle grip to steady your hold on the device, features an accessory mount on top for a light, and even has a standard mount on the bottom of the handle for attaching your iPhone to a tripod. Check out the video in the 2nd half of the post for details and a look at an early production model of the ZGrip iPhone Jr.

If you pre-order the ZGrip iPhone Jr. before Saturday, you can take another US$10 off of the purchase price. If you're still not tempted to buy one, what's your favorite way of keeping your iPhone 3GS steady while you're shooting video? Leave a comment below.

Continue reading “ZGrip iPhone Jr. available August 15th”

Tags: handheld, iphone, tripod, video

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Rumors, Software, Apple, iPhone, iPod touch

Rumor: Apple considering a $19.99 price point for App Store games?

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jan 29th, 2009

It's just a rumor at this point, but yes, apparently it's floating around out there that Apple may be considering a $19.99 price point for "premium" games in the App Store. That would be a direct response not only to bigger developers who say a 99 cents to $9.99 price point is too low for them to justify the cost of production, but also to competing game systems like the DS and the PSP -- if the same games were available for the same price on both systems, Apple could use the iPhone's extra features to justify even more purchases.

It's an interesting idea, and actually, though obviously it would cost consumers more, the bottom line in the App Store has always been worth, not price -- there are currently premium games being sold on services like Xbox Live and the Wii's Virtual Console for $20, and gamers are willing to pay, as long as they get the bang for the buck that they expect.

We'll have to see what approach Apple takes here. On the music side of things, they were obviously very hesitant to move up the price points (though even there, they made concessions and did so). As popular as the App Store is, a higher price point, if used correctly, could really open up the kinds of software we're seeing there.

Tags: app-store, apple, ds, gaming, handheld, prices, psp, rumor, virtual-console, xbox-live

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Payback brings a GTA clone to the iPhone

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jan 29th, 2009

Grand Theft Auto isn't out for the iPhone, but Payback is --it's basically a 3D version of the old top-down GTA gameplay, improved with better rendering and lighting. You control the game by pressing "buttons" on the screen, and tilting the iPhone around, and Touch Arcade says it works well. Some missions are apparently tough, but in terms of what GTA is really about -- driving around and generally causing mayhem -- Payback will deliver.

Unfortunately, textures (both visual and audio) are rough, as are the actual physics, so it seems Payback is more of a "GTA could work on the iPhone" demo rather than an actual game (though of course you can play it, it probably just won't be as fun). Still, we're in favor of any game reaching high on the iPhone, and this one definitely does.

Payback is out in the App Store now, for a substantial $6.99. But it's worth it, especially if you're a big GTA fan, just to see such a complex game on Apple's little handheld. Video on the next page.

Continue reading “Payback brings a GTA clone to the iPhone”

Tags: app-store, apple, grand-theft-auto, handheld, iphone, ipod-touch, mayhem, payback, problems, touch-arcade

Filed under: Rumors

Rumor: Is 'The Brick' a wireless hybrid handheld-slash-Mac?

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Sep 26th, 2008

There's a substantial amount of whispering about an anticipated "October Surprise" around the corner, but it's not the usual sort -- multiple sources have suggested that there is an Apple product introduction due on or about October 14. This hinting, combined with the refresh clock ticking away on the laptop line, leads us to suspect that new MacBooks and MacBook Pros are coming up soon -- but what of The Brick?

If another Apple product announcement is coming on the heels of a mid-October laptop refresh, and if it's the "product transition" mentioned in the earnings call last quarter, where Apple's margins will be squeezed enough to merit a warning to analysts, it's going to have to be something different. A TUAW source has passed along the following (unconfirmed) details on a possible new product -- and several of our commenters may be on the right track.

Continue reading “Rumor: Is 'The Brick' a wireless hybrid handheld-slash-Mac?”

Tags: brick, handheld, longshot, portable, rumor, the brick, TheBrick

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